Change in Windows 8 rules could clear the way for 7 inch tablets

In a bid to give its hardware partners "greater design flexibility," Microsoft has cut the minimum screen specs needed to win a "Designed for Windows 8" logo. Previously requiring a 1366×768 screen, Windows 8 hardware can now be built with a 1024×768 display.

As reported by Ed Bott of ZDNet, Microsoft made the change to its certification requirements earlier this month. To get the Windows 8 logo on these low-resolution devices, OEMs must also include a clear disclaimer that the low screen resolution disables the "snap" feature that allows two Metro apps to run side-by-side.